Exact Answer: After Two Weeks
An MCL surgery is performed to treat Metal Collateral Ligament, referred to as Tibial Collateral Ligament. It is performed on the knee of the patient. Such a fracture is caused either because of falling on the knee or maybe a hard blow on the knee. Sometimes it also happens because of a muscular contraction in one of the thigh muscles.
MCL is one of the four crucial ligaments of the knee. This ligament is located on the inner side of an individual’s knee. The main function of the ligament is to protect the knee from outward turning forces. It is important to protect the knee from any outside damage. It is essential to seek a medical practitioner if a person shows any symptoms.
How Long After MCL Surgery Can I Walk?
Whether there is a medial knee injury in the knee or not can be identified with X-rays in adults. In the case of children, an MRI scan is required to confirm the same. Not all medial injury treatments require MCL surgery, mainly depending on the type of injury. Some of the medial knee injuries can easily be treated by casting. Medial injuries can be very excruciating, and the patient might not move the leg that often. It is crucial not to put a lot of stress on the injured knee as it can worsen the patient’s situation.
The outcomes of the surgery are most often found to be good. However, individuals belonging to the middle age group are the most affected by this type of injury. It is advised to keep the leg in a straight position initially, and the patient should not try to move the leg. After the first three weeks, the patient should try to move the leg slowly and must start bending the knee, but slowly. The doctor should make sure that the patient is increasing the bending angle gradually.
| Event After Surgery | Time After Surgery |
| Walking With Crutches | After two weeks |
| Walking Without Any Support | After six weeks |
It is advised not to walk immediately after the surgery as the leg needs to recover and heal properly. Patients can start walking with the help of crutches or any other physical support two weeks after the surgery. However, it is advised not to walk without any support for six weeks post-surgery.
Why Does It Take That Long After MCL Surgery To Walk?
Medial knee injuries comprise one percent of the knee injuries. It has been found that males are more affected by the injury as compared to females. This type of injury disables a person to both straighten and bend the knee. It is recommended not to walk as it can worsen the injury and can also be very painful. Sitting in a particular position might also aggravate the pain. Bleeding in the joints is very common in such cases.
In MCL surgery, the doctor first cleanses the surgical site’s skin with antiseptic help. After that, the doctor makes an incision with the help of a scissor in the knee area. The doctor then treats the area with his tools, and it is important not to disturb the remaining ligaments as it can be dangerous. Anesthesia is already applied to the surgical area not to feel a lot of pain at the surgery.
The doctor advises not to put any weight on the knee immediately after the surgery as the knee becomes very weak and may not take so much pressure. It may result in worsening the condition of the knee. The patient might also feel a bit of pain after the surgery, and the doctors give painkillers to overcome the pain. It is also advised to put ice on the surgical area to reduce the pain significantly.
Conclusion
Overall, it can be concluded that an MCL injury is carried out to treat the metal collateral ligament present on the backside of the knee. This ligament can be injured by accident or because of falling hard on the knee. This injury is harrowing, and the patient feels a lot of discomforts while walking.
On average, a patient can resume walking with the help of crutches two weeks after the surgery to complete. However, to walk without any support, the leg needs to rest for around six weeks. MCL surgery is a compassionate process, and it takes a lot of precision and accuracy to carry out the surgery safely.
References
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2325967117S00126
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3671117/
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